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mind what the men of the kindred were doing that morning； and he had
a vision of them as it were； and saw them yoking the oxen to the
plough； and slowly going down the acres； as the shining iron drew the
long furrow down the stubble…land； and the light haze hung about the
elm…trees in the calm morning； and the smoke rose straight into the
air from the roof of the kindred。 And he said： 〃What is this？ am I
death…doomed this morning that this sight cometh so clearly upon me
amidst the falseness of this unchanging land？〃
Thus he came to the pavilion； and folk fell back before him to the
right and the left； and he stood before the King； and said to him：
〃I cannot find her； she is not in thy land。〃
Then spake the King； smiling upon him； as erst： 〃What wilt thou
then？ Is it not time to rest？〃
He said： 〃Yea； O King； but not in this land。〃
Said the King： 〃Where else than in this land wilt thou find rest？
Without is battle and famine； longing unsatisfied； and heart…burning
and fear； within it is plenty and peace and good will and pleasure
without cease。 Thy word hath no meaning to me。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Give me leave to depart； and I will bless thee。〃
〃Is there nought else to do？〃 said the King。
〃Nought else；〃 said Hallblithe。
Therewith he felt that the King's face changed though he still smiled
on him； and again he felt his heart grow cold before the King。
But the King spake and said： 〃I hinder not thy departure； nor will
any of my folk。 No hand will be raised against thee； there is no
weapon in all the land； save the deedless sword by my side and the
weapons which thou bearest。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃Dost thou not owe me a joy in return for my
beguiling？〃
〃Yea；〃 said the King； 〃reach out thine hand to take it。〃
〃One thing only may I take of thee；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃my troth…
plight maiden or else the speeding of my departure。〃
Then said the King； and his voice was terrible though yet he smiled：
〃I will not hinder； I will not help。 Depart in peace！〃
Then Hallblithe turned away dizzy and half fainting； and strayed down
the field； scarce knowing where he was； and as he went he felt his
sleeve plucked at； and turned about； and lo！ he was face to face with
the Sea…eagle； no less joyous than aforetime。 He took Hallblithe in
his arms and embraced him and kissed him； and said： 〃Well met；
faring…fellow！ Whither away？〃
〃Away out of this land of lies；〃 said Hallblithe。
The Sea…eagle shook his head； and quoth he： 〃Art thou still seeking
a dream？ And thou so fair that thou puttest all other men to shame。〃
〃I seek no dream；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃but rather the end of dreams。〃
〃Well；〃 said the Sea…eagle； 〃we will not wrangle about it。 But
hearken。 Hard by in a pleasant nook of the meadows have I set up my
tent； and although it be not as big as the King's pavilion； yet is it
fair enough。 Wilt thou not come thither with me and rest thee to…
night； and to…morrow we will talk of this matter？〃
Now Hallblithe was weary and confused； and downhearted beyond his
wont； and the friendly words of the Sea…eagle softened his heart； and
he smiled on him and said： 〃I give thee thanks； I will come with
thee： thou art kind； and hast done nought to me save good from the
time when I first saw thee lying in thy bed in the Hall of the
Ravagers。 Dost thou remember the day？〃
The Sea…eagle knitted his brow as one striving with a troublous
memory； and said： 〃But dimly； friend； as if it had passed in an ugly
dream： meseemeth my friendship with thee began when I came to thee
from out of the wood； and saw thee standing with those three damsels；
that I remember full well ye were fair to look on。〃
Hallblithe wondered at his words； but said no more about it； and they
went together to a flowery nook nigh a stream of clear water where
stood a silken tent； green like the grass which it stood on； and
flecked with gold and goodly colours。 Nigh it on the grass lay the
Sea…eagle's damsel； ruddy…cheeked and sweet…lipped； as fair as
aforetime。 She turned about when she heard men coming； and when she
saw Hallblithe a smile came into her face like the sun breaking out
on a fair but clouded morning； and she went up to him and took him by
the hands and kissed his cheek； and said： 〃Welcome； Spearman！
welcome back！ We have heard of thee in many places； and have been
sorry that thou wert not glad； and now are we fain of thy returning。
Shall not sweet life begin for thee from henceforward？〃
Again was Hallblithe moved by her kind welcome； but he shook his head
and spake： 〃Thou art kind； sister； yet if thou wouldst be kinder
thou wilt show me a way whereby I may escape from this land。 For
abiding here has become irksome to me； and meseemeth that hope is yet
alive without the Glittering Plain。〃
Her face fell as she answered： 〃Yea； and fear also； and worse； if
aught be worse。 But come； let us eat and drink in this fair place；
and gather for thee a little joyance before thou departest； if thou
needs must depart。〃
He smiled on her as one not ill…content； and laid himself down on the
grass； while the twain busied themselves； and brought forth fair
cushions and a gilded table； and laid dainty victual thereon and good
wine。
So they ate and drank together； and the Sea…eagle and his mate became
very joyous again； and Hallblithe bestirred himself not to be a mar…
feast； for he said within himself： 〃I am departing； and after this
time I shall see them no more； and they are kind and blithe with me；
and have been aforetime； I will not make their merry hearts sore。
For when I am gone I shall be remembered of them but a little while。〃
CHAPTER XVI： THOSE THREE GO THEIR WAYS TO THE EDGE OF THE GLITTERING
PLAIN
So the evening wore merrily； and they made Hallblithe lie in an ingle
of the tent on a fair bed； and he was weary； and slept thereon like a
child。 But in the morning early they waked him； and while they were
breaking their fast they began to speak to him of his departure； and
asked him if he had an inkling of the way whereby he should get him
gone； and he said： 〃If I escape it must needs be by way of the
mountains that wall the land about till they come down to the sea。
For on the sea is no ship and no haven； and well I wot that no man of
the land durst or can ferry me over to the land of my kindred； or
otherwhere without the Glittering Plain。 Tell me therefore （and I
ask no more of you）； is there any rumour or memory of a way that
cleaveth yonder mighty wall of rock to other lands？〃
Said the damsel： 〃There is more than a memory or a rumour： there is
a road through the mountains known to all men。 For at whiles the
earthly pilgrims come into the Glittering Plain thereby； and yet but
seldom； so many are the griefs and perils which beset the wayfarers
on that road。 Whereof thou hadst far better bethink thee in time；
and abide here and be happy with us and others who long sore to make
thee happy。〃
〃Nay；〃 said Hallblithe； 〃there is nought to do but tell me of the
way； and I will depart at once； blessing you。〃
Said the Sea…eagle： 〃More than that at least will we do。 May I lose
the bliss whereto I have attained； if I go not with thee to the very
edge of the land of the Glittering Plain。 Shall it not be so；
sweetheart？〃
〃Yea； at least we may do that；〃 said the damsel； and she hung her
head as if she were ashamed； and said： 〃And that is all that thou
wilt get from us at most。〃
Said Hallblithe： 〃It is enough； and I asked not so much。〃
Then the damsel busied herself； and set meat and drink in two
wallets； and took one herself and gave the other to the Sea…eagle；
and said： 〃We will be thy porters； O Spearman； and will give thee a
full wallet from the last house by the Desert of Dread； for when thou
hast entered therein； thou mayst well find victual hard to come by：
and now let us linger no more since the road is dear to thee。〃
So they set forth on foot； for in that land men were slow to feel
weariness； and turning about the hill of Wood…end； they passed by
some broken country； and came at even to a house at the entrance of a
long valley； with high and steeply…sloping sides； which seemed； as it
were； to cleave the dale country wherein they had fared aforetime。
At that house they slept well…guested by its folk； and the next
morning took their way down the valley； and the folk of the house
stood at the door to watch their departure； for they had told the
wayfarers that they had fared but a little way thitherward and knew
of no folk who had used that road。
So those three fared down the valley southward all day； ever mounting
higher as they went。 The way was pleasant and easy； for they went
over fair； smooth； grassy lawns betwixt the hill…sides； beside a
clear rattling stream that ran northward； at whiles were clumps of
tall